The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-14
WASHINGTON LETTER
from our Regular Correspondent
W.cnr.rannN n ~ To-, ~

WASHINGTON LETTER
from our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. d. c., Jan. II, 1887.
The weeks work in Congress can be
easily summarized, as the Senate was
in session only three days and the
House four. Besides good deal of
other private legislation the Senate
pensioned the widow of General Logan
at $4,000 year, secretly discussed the
Mexican Reciprocity treaty, and de.
bated the important pending bill on
Interstate Commerce. The House
passed three of the regular Appropri-
alton bills, several dozen private pen
sion bills, and discussed bills on the
Public Buildings and Naval Reorgani
zation. But what should be empha-
sized in the work of a Democratic
House is the passage, without oppo-
sition, and without any provision for
Confederate soldiers, of pension bill
for the current year appropriating over
S76,000,000.
This amount is nearly as much az
were the entire expenses of the Gov
ernment before the war, and it ought
to put the Republican ranters of the
last Presidential campaign to the blush,
if auything could. Democratic close
fistedness, indeed. Wherein does it
consist?
Senator Beck has by no means given
up his intention of pushing his bill to
prohibit members of Congress from
acting as attorneys for railroads which
have received Government aid, al
though his long silence had led some
of the railroad Senators TO hope that
they would not again be confronted by
this bugbear. 1t is sore trial for
them to have to face this dreadful
measure, especially since they know it
is urged forward by practically uu-
animous public sentiment The debate
on the Interstate Commerce bill il be-
ing long drawn out in the Senate as a
shield to keep Mr.. Beck off, but even
il must come to an end when all the
speakers have made their speeches for
or against it.
1t seems that the Revenue Reform
question is really coming to the front
now, and that another effort will be
made to reach those surplus millions.
This time it will be by the internal
revenue men, Mr.. Randall and his fol-
lowers. They will advocate that the
whole of the tobacco tax be removed,
that the tax on alcohol used in the arts
be abolished, and that fruit brandies
be relieved of tax, but as to whether
they will attempt any Tariff alterations,
no one can predict. The Members of
Congress from tobacco producing states
feel that it is a duty they owe their
constituents to vote for the repeal of
the internal tax on tobacco in almost
any shape that it might be presented
These are exciting days for the Sen.
ators whose terms expire on the fourth
of March, and there are many indica-
tions that the Senate will be much
changed after that time, but whether
or not it will be improved in character
or ability is an open question. Senator
Conger OF Michigan, who has been in
public life for thirty-two years, is to be
succeeded by Col. Stockbridge, because
the latter is a richer man. The long
bearded Republican millionaire from
Nevada, Mr.. w. M. Stewart, is coming
back tor another term. No one objects
TO him, however, as he was rather a
lively man in the Senate, and having a
pretentious looking residence here,
takes a good deal of interest in the i'm
pro,ement of Washington city.
1t is still doubtful who will get Gen
Logan's place, but Pennsylvania sends
Mr. Quay, a well known boss and In
trguer, instead of Mr.. Mitchell and
Minnesota sends Ex-Governor Davis, d
tariff reformer, writer of book on
Shakespeare, and so-called orator, II
place of Mr. Mcmillan. Nebraska i.
hesitating between demagogue aud a
magnate, and California is still il
doubt, as are also New York, Massa.
chdselts, Tennessee, and other states
When the Hopss took up the bill
Tor re organz ttion of the Navy, Mr..
& II of w. Va, who was Secretary OF
~ Navy for few weeks under Mr..
Il 'yes, entered upon a lengthy criti-
cisln of the bill, and charged the lack
of a Navy TO the Democratic party
Representative Buck thought it strange
that after Republican Secretaries OF
.he Navy had for years recommended
this same kind of legislation, it should
now be opposed because Democratic
Secretary had recommended it. Mr..
Bontelle, of Maine, who is one of the
uarrowesG partisan- on the Republican
side, denied that Mr. Golf or himself
had changed front 10 regard to this
matter But Mr.. Buck did not waver.
Said hG You are opposed TO it to-day,
you are opposed 10 1t as long as a
Democratic Secretary is in power"
AS TO the present condition of De-
mocracy and what it is doing, Gen
Black, Commissioner of Pensions,
gives a picture in a recent letter TO
Allen q. Thurman, which is calculated
TO rel Dice the heart of every one to
wnom success is dear. Said he "a
triumphant Democracy administers the
affairs of the Republic Quietly but
positively the reforms that have long
been demanded by the people, so far
as the Administrative branch of the
Government is concerned, are in vigor-
GUS fleet. Economy and law are the
standards of official action. Partisan
ship does not now throw its sword in-
20 the scales OF justice. Submission to
assessments by public officials for parti-
san purposes is not a condition of pub
lie service. Contracts are not lei to
the highest partisan bidder and the
public lands are safe within tie pale
of the statutes What more could be
said in behalf Of the great party which
mas brought about these things ia the
brief space Of twenty-five months I